Should They Play?The parents' guide to apps and games

How we decided on Minecraft

Yes, if they only play on their own. From 10, on a child account set up so they can only play on their own.

No, if they play online with others. Regulators are questioning how well Minecraft protects children from strangers online, and that isn't resolved.

Last checked .

Safety checks: playing alone

Minecraft (playing alone) passes all 7 safety checks. We apply the same strict rules to every app and game.

How it's locked: Multiplayer is off by default on child accounts, and only the parent can turn it on, from their own Microsoft account. Rule 9Source

  1. Could we confirm every fact?

    Yes

    Every fact below links to its source. Rule 1

  2. Is your child old enough for the official ratings?

    Yes

    Rated 10+ by ESRB (US). Our minimum age is 10. Rule 2

  3. Can you stop strangers contacting your child?

    Not needed

    With multiplayer locked off, no one can message, invite or join your child. Rule 3Source

  4. Is every risk under control once settings are on?

    Yes

    No risk stays high once every control is on. Rule 4

  5. Is its child-safety record clear?

    Not needed

    The open regulator concerns are about contact with other players, which can't happen with multiplayer locked off. Rule 5Source

  6. Can you stop all spending?

    Yes

    Parents can switch on “Require approval for every purchase” in Microsoft Family Safety. On phones and tablets, purchases go through Apple or Google, so their approval settings are needed too. Rule 6Source

  7. Is everything checked before children see it?

    No

    Children can still browse Marketplace add-ons made by other creators. We couldn't confirm every one is checked, so we assume they aren't. So the best we can say is “only with conditions”. Rule 7

Safety checks: playing online

Minecraft (playing online) fails 1 of our 7 safety checks. We apply the same strict rules to every app and game.

  1. Could we confirm every fact?

    Yes

    Every fact below links to its source. Rule 1

  2. Is your child old enough for the official ratings?

    Only from 10

    Rated 10+ by ESRB (US). Rule 2

  3. Can you stop strangers contacting your child?

    Yes

    Multiplayer is off by default on child accounts. Parents can set who can talk to or invite their child to Friends or Block, from their own Microsoft account. Rule 3Source

  4. Is every risk under control once settings are on?

    Yes

    No risk stays high once every control is on. Rule 4

  5. Is its child-safety record clear?

    No

    Australia’s eSafety regulator sent Minecraft compulsory notices about grooming in April 2026, found significant gaps in October 2026 and says it can take enforcement action. Missouri’s Attorney General is pressing Microsoft over predators on Xbox. Rule 5Source

  6. Can you stop all spending?

    Yes

    Parents can switch on “Require approval for every purchase” in Microsoft Family Safety. On phones and tablets, purchases go through Apple or Google, so their approval settings are needed too. Rule 6Source

  7. Is everything checked before children see it?

    No

    Players who say they’re adults can join third-party servers that nobody moderates, according to Australia’s eSafety regulator. So the best we can say is “only with conditions”. Rule 7Source

Official age ratings

Rating boards judge the content, not what other players say or do online. We never go below the highest.

WhoRatingWhy
ESRB (US)E10+Fantasy Violence. Players can talk to others online and buy in-game items with real money.
Google Play (UK, PEGI)PEGI 7PEGI rates the game itself, not what other players say or build online.
Apple App Store9+Flags infrequent cartoon violence, weapons, messaging and chat, and user-generated content. Has in-app purchases.
Common Sense Media8+Because of its complexity, mild violence and online community.